[Written for the Gavel.] CONSECRATION OF BURIAL GROUND, BY BROOKLYN LODGE. BY JAMES B. DEVOE, P. G. THE want of a proper place for the burial of the dead has long been felt. The constant and increasing demand in our populous cities, for the space now occupied by the various churches as burial grounds, has induced a number of our citizens to seek for such a place, for the burial of the dead, as would not be likely to be disturbed by the speculative spirit, or avaricious grasp a spot where the dead may find a resting place. Actuated partly by these and equally other praisworthy motives, Brooklyn Lodge, No. 26, purchased four lots of ground in "Greenwood cemetery," a beautiful spot at the head of Gowannus bay, and about three miles from the city of Brooklyn. *Greenwood cemetery," by the laws of our state, is to be used forever as a burial place, and can be used for no other purpose. It is a most beautiful spot, of many acres in extent, laid out with numerous walks and roads. In several places we noticed many very splendid vaults-in other places a beautiful knoll would be enclosed with a good and substantial iron railing. But we are diverging from the subject. Permission having been obtained from the R. W. G. L. to celebrate the consecration of the ground by a procession in full regalia, Brooklyn Lodge invited her sister Lodges to participate with her. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1844, this interesting event took place. The day was unusually disagreeable; but, notwithstanding, a delegation of several Lodges from the city of New York, attended by the R. W. Grand Lodge, and splendid bands of music proceeded, at about half past ten o'clock to the Brooklyn ferry. The delegation from New York was received at Brooklyn by the Lodges of that city, and escorted to the place in line assigned them. At about twelve o'clock the procession began to move, and passing through several of the principal streets of Brooklyn, proceeded to the cemetery; where they arrived at about two o'clock P. M. Arrived at the gate of the cemetery, the procession halted, opened right and left, and those at the rear of it then marched up between the lines, and entered the grounds in a reverse order from the order of march. It proceeded round a road called the "Tour," and turning to the right, reached a selected and picturesque spot, which lies on the left of "Lawn Avenue," opposite a beautiful lake. Here an excellent platform had been erected for the orator, chaplain, officers of the Grand Lodge, Grand Encampment and the several subordinate Lodges. The Grand Lodge took its station on the right, Grand Encampment and Brooklyn Lodge on the left, the other Lodges forming around. 2 4 N. G. SKINNER, of Brooklyn Lodge, introduced the chaplain, who delivered an appropriate prayer. P. G. D. P. BARNETT, was then introduced, and commenced addressing the assemblage, by describing the manner in which Brooklyn Lodge was established-the number of members who had been removed by death, the amount disbursed for sickness and death, &c. &c. He also gave his views as to what should be, and is, every good Odd Fellow's duty, and detailed the necessity for such a place as had been purchased by Brooklyn Lodge for the burial of the dead. Said he: "Frequently we have the entire charge of the corpsesometimes we bury a brother according to the rules of such a religion as his living relatives may desire in all other respects we bury the dead in the way and manner that we deem most proper. For this reason, we have chosen this piece of ground as the last resting place of the brothers of our Order-we have bought it for that purpose-and we have met here this day to dedicate it to that effect. "This course has been rendered necessary by the desecration of the grave yards in our large cities. Every year we see ground that was once bought by the living and set apart for the burial of their dead relatives, sold again to others sold a second time and for far different purposes-for stores and houses, and the bones of the dead are huddled elsewhere into a common pit. Even in our own city, they are talking of selling the principal grave yard for building lots. Hence the anxiety to secure a spot for our final resting place, where the respect due to the dead shall be preserved. "We design this piece of ground hereafter to be the place of burial for our members, their wives and children, and those Odd Fellows from a distant place, who may die amongst us; that all may look to this as the termination of their earthly career. And it is pleasing to think that on this subject there was no difference of opinionthat all came up to the work as one man-with one heart and one mind. "We do not wish to lay claim to any particular honor for being the pioneers in an enterprise of this kind. We have done it merely in accordance with the mandate of the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States-" Bury the Dead." And it is thus we hope to manifest-by works, not words-our respect for that body and our devotion to the Order. Heretofore, the Order has interred its members in the various burial places in our cities; but we have seen, within the past few years, our burial places (where those whom we once held most dear on earth, had been interred,) which we had once purchased and paid for, and that too at exorbitant rates, resold again without our concurrence, their graves desecrated, their remains torn from what should have been their last resting place, merely to gratify that worse than unholy passion, avarice, on the part of those who happened to hold what is termed in law a legal title to that which, as I before remarked, we once purchased from them. "It has been urged in extenuation of these circumstances, that an already great, and constantly increasing commerce, demanded the sacrifice. But here, my friends and brothers, can the remains of the dead lie undisturbed, "far from the busy haunts of men." Here can be deposited the dead, without the fear of having their graves violated, to satisfy the cravings of avarice, or the miserable spirit of speculation. Here can be found what has long been needed, a resting place for the dead, without fear of having them disturbed. No spirit of avarice can enter within this sacred enclosure; no wild scheme of speculation can here find its way. By a wise law of our state legislature, this place is to be occupied forever as a burial place. No gold can purchase an inch of this ground for any other purpose than that for which it is intended. The laws of our state protect it. We had rather depend on the wise action of our legislature than upon individual faith. Upon it we can, in this matter at least, rely in perfect security, and without the least fear. The speaker then addressed the officers and members of the Grand Lodge, in an earnest and elegant manner, after which he addressed the members of Brooklyn Lodge, nearly as follows: "To you, brethren of Brooklyn Lodge, I now address myself. Should ever strife or dissention enter your Lodge, remember, oh, remember this place! and let it act as a means of producing harmony, "Friendship, Truth and Love" amongst you. Remember this hallowed place, where, in all human probability, many of us will lie side by side, when our immortal spirits have returned to the God who gave them. Remember this, and so strive to regulate your actions, while life is still yours, and while you have the opportunity, that you can descend to the grave with the happy consciousness of knowing that you have performed your duty as Christians, and as every true Odd Fellow should. Do this, and you will have no cause to regret your attendance at this place to-day. "Yonder stands a tall and stately oak, a giant of its kind, its limbs towering to the sky. Methinks I see, in the dim vista of futurity, a small acorn, wafted by the fierce winds to this little spot, where it finds a resting place. In a short time it germinates, and produces a tree, the roots of which spread in a thousand different directions over this spot, finding their way through the earth, to our coffins and our bones which lie mouldering in the dust, receiving sustenance and strength from them, until it becomes a mighty tree. Oh, my brethren, do you, in like manner, now, give sustenance and strength to the roots of your Lodge. Guard it well! Let its now proud station in the Order, be sustained by you. Guard it as you would "the apple of your eye," that it may increase in strength and usefulness. Do not be swerved, for an instant, from "the duty you owe to your God, your neighbor, and yourself." Ever maintain your present character and standing, and you will, you must, prosper. This spot, which we are now about to consecrate as the burial place of this Lodge, is to be used not only for your own members, but for their families for the wives and for the orphans of deceased broth ers, and for brothers who may be strangers here, and die amongst us. Strangers did I say? No! No Odd Fellow can, in a brother of our beloved Order, recognize him as a stranger. We are united by a sacred bond- -a bond which can never be severed. We are all placed on the same footing, and no earthly power can deprive us of this inestimable tie-a tie that will remain firm until life is extinct." After a few other remarks the speaker concluded. The "Orphean family," who kindly volunteered on this occasion, were then introduced, and sang in a beautiful style, the following original ode, composed expressly for the occasion: ODE. In the dark, dreary tomb, around which is creeping The thunder may crash! while the broad earth in quaking; The deep, solemn slumber, that reigns with the dead. Yet, brothers, the tomb, which your frames are enchaining, Upon this bleak earth now no longer remaining, 'Midst the music of spheres, they soar to the sky! The noise and wild tumults, with which earth is teeming, N. G. SKINNER then addressed the assemblage in a neat and pertinent manner, and concluded by declaring the grounds to be thenceforth dedicated as a place of burial for the members of Brooklyn Lodge, No. 26. After which, the Grand Marshal of the day announced that it had been intended by the committee of arrangements, to have given an hour's intermission, to enable the members of the Order to view the grounds of the cemetery; but in consequence of the unpleasantness of the weather, it was thought that the members would prefer going home. The procession then took up the line of march, and the New York delegations were escorted to the steam boat by the Brooklyn Lodges. We e hope the laudable example of Brooklyn Lodge will be followed by the various Lodges of our large cities, at least. New York, November, 1844. The name of Ohio City Lodge, No. 27, Ohio city, Cuyahoga county, has been changed to Erie Lodge, No. 27.-Ark. EDITOR'S TABLE. SECRETS OF ODD FELLOWSHIP. THE most popular objection brought against our Order is its "secret principles.' But even this objection is based in ignorance, for its principles are no secrets. Its work is a secret but its principles are as public as the stars. Any man may read our constitution and know all that any of us know about its principles. The signs, passwords, and grips are secrets; but these form no part of its principles: they are the locks and keys, and bolts by which we protect our treasures, and secure the blessings of our principles for those who have a right to them. A merchant's keys are secrets by which he alone has access to his goods: it is precisely thus with the secrets of Odd Fellowship. We have a precious fund which is to support us when we are sick, and educate our children when we are dead; we have locked up this ample treasure behind signs and passwords, where no violence and theft can dispossess us of it-this is all the secret we have. Now we are prepared fully to appreciate the main objection to Odd Fellowship. Will any one contend that we have no right to lay by this fund for the day of need? set him down a fool, or send him to the madhouse. Or, having obtained the fund, have we no right to secure it for ourselves and children? he who says no, had best remove to China, for plain enough he is a disgrace and an encumberance in the states. Law and custom says here, take any virtuous way you like to provide for the hour of want, and when you have made the provision, secure it to yourself and yours, in the manner that seemeth good in your own eyes, if so you trespass not on your neighbor. One man locks up his highest treasure with a key, another with a mystic word, that makes it safer than brass and iron, and who shall dispute his right? No matter who; call his name what you will, Colver, or something else, it is not Odd Fellowship that he exposes, but himself. "PROGRESS OF THE ORDER.” Ir is a very pleasant task to sit down and record the progress of Friendship, Love and Truth, within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the United States. Already do the Lodges in the "EMPIRE |